ACC97: Error "Invalid DOS 8.3 Name" Adding DB to SourceSafe (163705)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 97
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows 4.0a
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe for Windows 5.0
This article was previously published under Q163705
Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multi-user skills.

SYMPTOMS

When you add a database to Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, you may receive the following error:
<File Name> is an invalid DOS 8.3 name
This article assumes that you are familiar with using the client and server side capabilities of Visual SourceSafe. For more information about Visual SourceSafe, please refer to the "Visual SourceSafe User's Guide" or the Help topics available from the Visual SourceSafe Help menu.

CAUSE

Microsoft Visual SourceSafe is configured to use MS-DOS format file names.

RESOLUTION

Start Microsoft Visual SourceSafe Explorer and turn off the MS-DOS file name option. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Start Microsoft Visual SourceSafe Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. Click the View tab.
  4. Click to clear the "Always use MS-DOS format filenames" check box.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Repeat steps 1-3 in the "Resolution" section.
  2. Click to select the "Always use MS-DOS format filenames" box.
  3. Quit Microsoft Visual SourceSafe Explorer.
  4. Start Microsoft Access and create a new database called "This is a long file name.mdb" (without the quotation marks).
  5. Add the new database to SourceSafe control. Note that you receive the error message:
    This is a long file name.ACB is an invalid DOS 8.3 name.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:2/10/2005
Keywords:kberrmsg kbinterop kbprb KB163705
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